This article is an interesting collection of reflections from readers of the New York Times on the racism and Resulting conflicts on campuses across America. You will read more than about the University of Missouri or other campus recently In the news. The cross section of campuses is well done. Interesting and educational.
Not sure if I am worried about these Stanford freshman as described by this author (Dean). Seems to me that maybe there are lot more freshman around the country at our public universities and community colleges who everyday are doing fantastic things for other people and for themselves without their parents doing the helicopter routine. In fact they often are doing these fantastic things Without family support or family knowledge. Many of these students are first generation college students and/or from poverty families. We need more support for them as they pursue their futures. So I think about and worry about these men and women more than Stanford freshman. With that said this article is worth a read and has some applicability to our freshman at public colleges and universities.
Charles Blow's column in today's NYT is worth a read. It gives a very important perspective on the race debate and crisis that is raging on many U.S. campuses. Seems to me that we need more black perspectives in this debate and university leadership ought to provide the leadership to make sure it happens! I was the president of a university without much diversity of any kind and I saw what a hole the lack of diversity left in our campus culture and in the intellectual perspective given to our students.
Dr Steffen Schmidt: posted blog. Inpart. "Iowapolitical.blogspot"
The Paris massacre is a game changer for the Iowa caucuses and the 2016 US presidential elections.
Cut the US federal budget? ...
Rand Paul is finished. So is Bernie Sanders. The priorities have just totally changed.
All the issues will be inverted.
The Des Moines Presidential debate(11.14.15) will be completely different today as a result of this terrorist attack.
Who will benefit?
Hillary and one of the GOP hawks. Probably someone with some "real" experience.
This is the end of the 2016 debates and campaign "circus."
US presidential elections are not a clown act. They are also not a sermon.
I imagine that Carson, Firorina, and Trump will drop in the polls. NO ONE wants to turn over their lives and the security of their families to inexperienced people.
Dr Steffen Schmidt: posted blog. Inpart. "Iowapoliticsblogspot"
The Paris massacre is a game changer for the Iowa caucuses and the 2016 US presidential elections.
Cut the US federal budget? ...
Rand Paul is finished. So is Bernie Sanders. The priorities have just totally changed.
All the issues will be inverted.
The Des Moines Presidential debate(11.14.15) will be completely different today as a result of this terrorist attack.
Who will benefit?
Hillary and one of the GOP hawks. Probably someone with some "real" experience.
This is the end of the 2016 debates and campaign "circus."
US presidential elections are not a clown act. They are also not a sermon.
I imagine that Carson, Firorina, and Trump will drop in the polls. NO ONE wants to turn over their lives and the security of their families to inexperienced people.
Another resignation on another campus. Students, faculty and Administration clash over priorities, proper procedure and ideas being allowed to be debated. Much more to come on campuses all across America.
This research is useful in our current environment of reduced federal and state funding and rocketing tuition increases (in some cases). Seems to me that more attention has to be paid by our state university governing bodies to reducing costs and increasing quality by examining research in this study funded by TIAA-CREF. There are some very interesting ideas and concepts here.
In Michigan the legislature may want to spend time talking about some of these issues with University Boards instead of just university presidents. It is the Boards who set policy and future strategic directions. The legislature can use funding restraints to control degree/program expansions, incentivize administrative efficiencies through strategic alliances, joint ventures and/or administrative mergers. They could also look at incentivize universities that share academic programs while eliminating duplicative academic programs. More on all this later.
Will be interesting to see if this is only a short term trend or a longer term trend on our American University campuses? A social movement?
http://mashable.com/2015/11/11/ithaca-college-solidarity-protest/?utm_cid=mash-com-Tw-main-link
Lots of part truths, untruths and in-artful statements by Senator Rubio in this debate report. However, we can hope that we hear more on higher education policy proposals by candidates of both parties--more than just on tuition policy. Lots to be concerned and to celebrate about on this subject, so more detail and clarity by all would be helpful.
This is from the West Michigan Policy Forum:
Last night the legislature passed, and the governor has announced he will sign it, a plan that will dedicate $1.2 billion in ongoing additional Transportation funding.
This plan dedicates $600 million in existing resources and raises $600 million in new revenue dedicated to Transportation. The $600 million in new revenue will come via $400 million from a gas tax increase of 7.3 cents per gallon along with diesel parity with unleaded gas; plus $200 million from automobile registration increases. The package also includes an increase in the Homestead Property Tax Credit to provide relief for low and middle-income earners as well as a conditional phase-out of the income tax if revenues exceed 1.45 times inflation.
The WMPF Conference has repeatedly made this our top priority and continued to advocate for a solution. Last month, the WMPF was the first organization to announce support for this 600/600 solution that ultimately broke the logjam leading to a solution being delivered.
Thank you for your hard work and diligence to help solve this longstanding problem. Now we can continue to drive Michigan's success forward.
Jim Dunlap
Chair, West Michigan Policy Forum
Below is a more detailed summary from MIRS and a link to the Mlive article.
Snyder Says He's 'Ready' To Sign $1.2B Road Plan Into Law
Holding up a pen during a press conference tonight, Gov. Rick SNYDER announced that he's "ready" to sign the Legislature's $1.2 billion road funding plan into law.
The plan, which would increase the gasoline tax, bump up registration fees and eventually shift $600 million in existing state revenues to roads, narrowly passed the House and the Senate today.
"This will lead to safer and better roads in our state and do it in a fiscally responsible way," Snyder said of the proposal.
According to the Governor, the plan marks the largest transportation investment in the state of Michigan in 50 years. And it will bring the first increase in registration fees in more than 30 years.
It comes after voters soundly rejected a proposal to increase the sales tax for roads in May and after years of lawmakers struggling to find more than a $1 billion in added revenue for the state's crumbling infrastructure.
After the House voted tonight, Appropriations Chair Al PSCHOLKA (R-Stevensville) said it was past time for action.
"This is probably the biggest thing we've done on infrastructure in maybe the last few decades," Pscholka said.
The final plan marks a compromise among House Republicans, Senate Republicans and Snyder's administration.
It includes $600 million in new revenue and $600 million in existing revenues, as pushed by the House. And it includes a heavier reliance on the gasoline tax than registration fees, as pushed by the Senate.
The plan will increase the gas tax by 7.3 cents per gallon effective Jan. 1, 2017. The new gas tax rate will be 26.3 cents per gallon, and the current diesel tax of 15 cents per gallon will be increased to match the gas tax rate, as well.
Plus, the gas tax will eventually be tied to inflation. The gas tax changes will bring in an additional $400 million.
Registration fees will increase by about 20 percent across the board, bringing in another $200 million. The registration changes will take effect Jan. 1, 2017.
The plan will be completely phased in by Fiscal Year 2021. At that point, the plan will have the full $1.2 billion impact.
Democrats slammed the plan today because of its reliance on General Fund revenues and the fact that it won't be completely phased until five years from now.
They point out that some estimates say the state needs another $2 billion for roads now.
Senate Minority Leader Jim ANANICH (D-Flint) said the plan is too little, too late in terms of new revenue and also puts several key aspects of the budget in danger, he argued.
"$1.2 billion is what we needed a few years ago, and three to four years from now when it's finally fully implemented, it will not be nearly enough," Ananich said. "And to have $600 million unidentified? It's just not responsible."
House Minority Leader Tim GREIMEL (D-Auburn Hills) called the plan a "sham" and a "joke."
"The majority party today is saying it's OK to kick the fiscal can down the road for future generations," Greimel said.
During a speech on the House floor, Greimel also argued that Snyder himself had previously indicated that he wanted no more than $400 million of existing state revenues in future years to be part of the road plan.
Asked about that tonight, Snyder said he wanted a plan that was "fiscally responsible."
Snyder said with Treasury and the state fiscal agencies' help, leaders examined what they could ask the General Fund to contribute while still making other investments in other areas.
"If you look at how this gets phased in, it's phased in in a fashion where that works," Snyder said.
The Business Leaders for Michigan had also voiced concerns about state's finances when it's come to past transportation proposal. Doug ROTHWELL, president and CEO of the organization, said the final plan "doesn't meet all of our objectives" but "meets many of them."
"Moving forward, we will monitor the state's finances to ensure the goals of this multi-year funding plan are met and continue to encourage the state to prioritize investments to make college more affordable and to support job training and economic development as these are also critical priorities that are important to growing jobs and our economy," Rothwell said in the statement.
The Detroit Regional Chamber said today's plan appeared to be "the best this Legislature can do." But the Michigan League for Public Policy said the plan would put funding for schools, public safety and local communities in jeopardy.
Today's votes came two weeks after the House sent a plan that featured $400 million from registration fees and $200 million from the gas tax to the Senate.
Senators flipped those numbers and made a number of other changes to gather the votes to send the seven-bill package back to the House today.
HB 4738, the bill that would increase the gas tax by 7.3 cents per gallon, passed the House, 55-52. Rep. Harvey SANTANA (D-Detroit) was the only Democrat to vote for the bill while seven Republicans voted no. The House Republicans in opposition were Reps. Gary GLENN (R-Midland), Tom HOOKER(R-Byron Center), Peter LUCIDO (R-Shelby Twp.), Jim RUNESTAD (R-White Lake), Pat SOMERVILLE(R-New Boston), Lana THEIS (R-Brighton) and Hank VAUPEL (R-Fowlerville).
The bill passed the Senate, 20-18. Sen. Virgil SMITH Jr. (D-Detroit) was the only Senate Democrat to vote for the bill.
Republicans to vote no on HB 4738 were Sens. Jack BRANDENBURG (R-Harrison Twp.), PatrickCOLBECK (R-Canton), Mike GREEN (R-Mayville), Joe HUNE (R-Hamburg), Phil PAVLOV (R-St. Clair), JohnPROOS (R-St. Joseph), Tory ROCCA (R-Sterling Heights) and Tonya SCHUITMAKER (R-Lawton).
HB 4736, the bill that would increase registration fees by about 20 percent across the board, passed the House, 54-53. It passed the Senate 20-18.
Under the bill, the average registration tax in Michigan would go up by about $20. The increase would take Jan. 1, 2017. It would also create a new surcharge for electric vehicles.
The vote break down in the House was the same as that on HB 4738 except Rep. Ken GOIKE (R-Ray Twp.) joined the opposition. In the Senate, Sen. Judy EMMONS (R-Sheridan) voted no while Green voted yes.
The General Fund shifts are located in HB 4370. The bill would also expand the Homestead Property Tax Credit to produce $200 million in tax relief, essentially balancing out the tax increase in the registration bill.
HB 4370, which would phase in the fund shifts from Fiscal Year 2019 to Fiscal Year 2021, passed the House 62-45. It passed the Senate 28-10.
On top of the Homestead Property Tax Credit, the package could also bring another form of tax relief.
The new version of SB 0414 would allow the state to drop the 4.25 percent income tax rate if General Fund revenues increase above the rate of inflation times 1.425. It passed the House, 61-46, and the Senate, 28-10.
The income tax determination would begin with tax year 2023.
HB 4737 would form an Road Innovation Task Force to report on ways to the Michigan Department of Transportation could build high quality roads that last longer than those typically constructed by the state. The bill would also create an innovation fund that would receive money that couldn't be used unless approved by the Legislature. It passed the House, 73-34, and the Senate, 27-11.
HB 4614, which goes along with the main gas tax bill, passed the House, 55-52, and the Senate, 21-17.
HB 4616, which contains alternative fuel language, passed the House, 56-51, and the Senate, 20-18.
Interesting again that the legislature is asking the presidents of our state universities their stand on this legislation and not asking the university policy makers--the boards of trustees/regents. Why not ask them? They make policy not presidents. Same on tuition.
Interesting development. Will it have an impact or just more on the fringes? Not Mr. Horn's job change, but will we see more higher education leaders moving more into innovation mode versus more status quo. Higher education leadership currently is in mode of "just give us more money, we know what we are doing and you do not."
With two years left in the current administration it is doubtful that Congess will consider much of the reform policies suggested by Secretary Duncan. Also the retirement of Speaker Boehner means there will be little progress on No Child Left Behind reforms. Most likely it will difficult for Obama Administration to get a new Education Department Secretary nominated and approved in next year-especially with upcoming 2016 and 2018 elections.
The Opportunity Gap is not being narrowed and it is the key to reducing poverty.